The 2015 Annual Provider Meeting will be held October 25, 2015 near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The Meeting will teach you how to improve patient outcomes and quality of life, provide patient-centered care, and foster a facility environment that is safe for patients. Speakers will also cover fluid management, survey citations, water treatment, and the QIP, with nationally-known faculty. Awards will be presented to the best-performing or most-improved facilities in seven critical areas of concern. Nurses, technicians, social workers, and dietitians can earn 6.5 CEUs. Be sure to register before October 22 to save $25. Find full details at https://www.nwrn.org/files/N/NWMtg15.pdf .

Northwest Renal Network is required by CMS to track the status of facility operations and patient access to treatment during emergency events. If the operations of your facility, or ability for patients to have access to dialysis are impacted by emergency events – such as wildfires – please fill out the form at https://www.nwrn.org/providers-and-professional-staff/emerstf/disrpt.html and fax it back to the Network as soon as possible. Contact Lisa Hall at the Network with questions: LHall@nw16.esrd.net or 206-923-0714.

On September 10 and 14, 2015, CDC will offer two training sessions on the NHSN Outpatient Dialysis Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Module. Sign up for one or the other; both sessions will cover reporting requirements and data entry for the Module. Register at http://www2.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/nhsn/, but be sure to scroll down and choose one of the Dialysis sessions – if you inadvertently sign up for an inpatient psychiatric session instead, you won’t get the correct material. NHSN Healthcare Personnel Influenza Vaccination is a QIP reporting measure in the PY2018 PPS.